Spreader wheel

ABSTRACT

In a continuous casting bar machine, a spreader wheel exerts lateral outward pressure against the sides of the casting groove in a casting wheel to minimize shrinking or reduction of groove width.

United States Patent [191 Jacob et al.

[ 51 Feb. 27, 1973 SPREADER WHEEL Inventors: Harry M. Jacob, Flemington, N.J., John C. Lorenzen, Inspiration, Ariz.

Assignee: Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company, New York, NY.

Filed: Feb. 11, 1971 Appl. No.: 114,496

US. Cl ..l64/278, 72/176 Int. Cl. ..B22d 11/06 Field of Search ..164/278, 276, 277, 87; 72/176,

Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Att0rneyPennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylor & Adams [5 7] ABSTRACT In a continuous casting bar machine, a spreader wheel exerts lateral outward pressure against the sides of the casting groove in a casting wheel to minimize shrinking or reduction of groove width.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a typical continuous copper bar casting operation, molten copper is cast into a channel formed in the periphery of a vertical, water-cooled casting wheel. The casting groove is sealed by a moving band about the sides and lower peripheral portion which allows the molten copper to solidify into a bar as it passes around the periphery of the wheel. Once solidified, the bar is stripped from the wheel and rolled into a rod and coiled.

Casting wheel life is determined principally by the length of time the dimensional integrity of the casting groove can be maintained. Probably due to the disparate temperatures of the wheel and the molten metal, the casting groove tends to close after a relatively short time, requiring replacement of the casting wheel with consequent loss of machine operating time. It is the purpose of the present invention to extend the operational life of casting wheels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a hard surfaced spreader wheel is secured in such manner to a bar casting machine as to ride within the peripheral groove in the casting wheel. Variable pressure means are provided for forcing the spreader wheel into the groove to exert a laterally outward pressure against the sides of the groove. The action of the wheel against the sides of the groove can be regulated to minimize or eliminate the tendency for the casting groove to close thereby greatly increasing casting wheel life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation taken of portions of a continuous bar casting machine including the spreader wheel of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the spreader wheel taken in the directions of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A portion of a continuous bar casting machine which incorporates the present invention has been illustrated. The apparatus 10 includes a casting wheel mounting plate 11 of conventional design which has a peripheral member 12 defining a generally U-shaped casting groove 13 having sides 12a, 12b. It will be understood that molten metal, for example, copper, will be poured into the groove 13 from a tundish (not shown) and as the wheel 1 l revolves in the direction of the arrow, copper will solidify in the groove 13. A moving band (not shown) will form a closure of the groove 13 along the sides and lower portion of the wheel 11 to prevent molten metal from running from the groove.

Wheel 11 will be suitably cooled by some means such as by water cooling. After traversing the wheel 11 the solidified bar 14 will be stripped and drawn from the groove 13 by a conveyor 15 which will transport the bar 14 for rolling, coiling, and storage. It will be understood that the apparatus thus far described is known and does not of itself comprise the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, a spreader wheel 16 whose sides conform generally to the angular inclination of the sides 12a, 12b is inserted in the groove 13 for a distance, in the present embodiment, of

about one-half inch. The wheel 16 (in the present embodiment approximately 3 22inch in diameter) is journalled upon a shaft 17 by bearings 18. Shaft 17 is held between two arms 19 and 20 which are attached by means of pivot pin 23 to depending flanges 21 of a mounting plate 22. The plate 22 is rigidly secured to the structure of the casting apparatus.

Bridge members 24, 25 and 26 are attached securely to plate 22 and thus rigidly to the structure of the machine 10. Members 24-26 mount a plate 27 to which is bolted at 28 an air cylinder 29. The actuating arm 30 of cylinder 29 is bolted at 31 to yokes 32 one each securely attached to arms 19 and 20. The arrangement shown permits the air cylinder to be actuated at a suitable variable pressures to force the spreader wheel 16 into the groove 13. The force used will be that sufficient to prevent the opposing walls 12a and 12b of the peripheral member 12 from closing the groove 13. By this means, the life of a casting wheel will be greatly lengthened and the dimensional integrity of manufactured rod produced by the casting wheel will be maintained.

It will be understood that the foregoing description has related to a particular embodiment and is therefore representative. In order to appreciate fully the scope of the invention, reference should be made to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a continuous bar casting machine for continuous casting of copper bar and the like wherein said machine has a casting wheel which defines a casting groove having sidewalls and a bottom of generally U- shaped cross-sectional configuration in the periphery thereof, the improvement comprising, a spreader wheel, means for mounting said spreader wheel for rotation and to have edge portions thereof in contact with said sidewalls of the peripheral groove to inhibit movement of said sidewalls toward one another and closing the groove, means for pivoting said spreader wheel toward and away from said casting wheel, and means for forcing said spreader wheel into said groove.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for forcing said spreader wheel into said groove is a variable pressure means. 

1. In a continuous bar casting machine for continuous casting of copper bar and the like wherein said machine has a casting wheel which defines a casting groove having sidewalls and a bottom of generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration in the periphery thereof, the improvement comprising, a spreader wheel, means for mounting said spreader wheel for rotation and to have edge portions thereof in contact with said sidewalls of the peripheral groove to inhibit movement of said sidewalls toward one another and closing the groove, means for pivoting said spreader wheel toward and away from said casting wheel, and means for forcing said spreader wheel into said groove.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for forcing said spreader wheel into said groove is a variable pressure means. 